Torben Lund Skovhus
Docent, Project Manager
VIA University College
Horsens, Denmark
Rick Eckert
Principal, Owner
Microbial Corrosion Consulting, LLC
Michigan, USA
rick@microbialcorrosionconsulting.com
Presentation Date: April 25, 2024
Subject Area: New Technologies
Characterizing the microbiological conditions in an environment where corrosion is occurring is an essential part of diagnosing the biotic and abiotic corrosion mechanism(s) responsible for the damage. Microbiological characterization often includes assessing the diversity, activity, numbers, and distribution of microorganisms in biofilms that are in contact with corroding and non-corroding surfaces. The use of DNA- and enzyme-based microbiological test methods by industry continues to grow each year as demonstrated by increasing numbers of service providers and field applicable technology platforms. Although there is promising research on genetic biomarkers for detecting microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), there is still no single test method that provides all of the information required for a clear MIC diagnosis. Experts and industry standards agree that multiple lines of evidence (MLOE) are still needed to diagnose MIC, including information about the chemical and physical conditions present, corrosion products and materials properties, asset design, and operational data. Recent industry standards and educational initiatives are helping to familiarize end users with the application of molecular microbiological methods and appropriate approaches for integrating, analyzing, and applying the test results.
(Presentation by Torben L. Skovhus and Richard B. Eckert)
BIOs:
Dr. Torben Lund Skovhus is Principal Owner of Skovhus BioConsult (SBC) and is also Docent & Project Manager at VIA University College in the Research Center for Built Environment, Energy, Water and Climate, Denmark. Dr Skovhus is currently chair of AMPP SC-22 and ISMOS TSC an organization he founded in 2006. He is the author of 150+ technical and scientific papers and book chapters related to industrial microbiology, applied biotechnology, corrosion management, oilfield microbiology, water treatment and safety, reservoir souring and biocorrosion. He is Lead editor of “Failure Analysis of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion” from 2021 (CRC Press).
Richard Eckert, Principal Owner of Microbial Corrosion Consulting, LLC, has over 43 years of experience with oil and gas industry corrosion/failure investigations, internal corrosion and MIC assessment, mitigation and management; materials selection, forensic corrosion engineering, litigation support and regulatory compliance. He is the author of 4 books and over 50 publications on internal corrosion mitigation and monitoring, corrosion failure investigation and microbiologically influenced corrosion. Mr. Eckert is an AMPP certified Internal Corrosion Specialist, and AMPP Fellow. He previously served on the NACE Board of Directors and has chaired a number of technical committees that produced standards on corrosion management and internal MIC of pipelines. He is co-editor of “Failure Analysis of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion” from 2021 (CRC Press).